The organisations are calling on the UK government to expand the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) to European Union countries to fill the estimated 69% drop in UK staff working in the EU since Brexit took full effect.
Abta and UKinbound want the issue considered as part of the upcoming review of the UK-EU trade deal in 2026. The two organisations spoke with UK MPs at an event in parliament on Tuesday (12 September) to highlight the matter.
The YMS is already in place for countries including Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
Joss Croft, UKinbound chief executive, said: “The Youth Mobility Scheme already exists – we now need to see this expanded to more countries, especially in the EU.
“This isn’t an immigration issue as there is no right to remain – but this is a concrete way that young people can learn a new language, develop lifelong associations with the host countries and gain new skills that will benefit them throughout their career.”
“It is important the government proactively pushes this programme bilaterally and across the EU, with an opportunity to extend this further by including YMS in any future trade deals.”
Luke Petherbridge, Abta’s director of public affairs, added: “It’s important we keep up the momentum with politicians around the challenges travel companies are facing employing UK staff in the EU, and vice versa. We know that it is damaging business and is a threat to growth.
“It is also stifling young people’s opportunity to develop careers within the sector. Many travel leaders started their careers working abroad, and without this route into careers in travel we risk losing great talent to other industries.”
“We conveyed these messages strongly when we spoke to MPs yesterday and it was good to see so many engage in this issue and be supportive of the industry’s ask to extend the scheme.”
The campaign will be further bolstered later this month when Advantage chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said meets UK tourism minister John Whittingdale to discuss this and other issues.
